Today's blog is going to be about a couple of different topics - mainly dealing with public celebrities, if you will.
News broke within the last few days about an alleged incident involving Jeff Archuleta, famous father of season seven American Idol runner-up David Archuleta, soliciting a prostitute working for a massage parlor in Utah back in January. Reportedly, Jeff sought these services through Craigslist and was caught in a police sting. He pleaded no contest to the charges and paid $582 in fines. Apparently the Jeff Archuleta camp is saying this is one big misunderstanding. However, it's obviously true if he pleaded no contest. I just can't understand what this man was thinking. He had the world at his feet, with a popular and very successful son doing well in the music industry. He has a gorgeous wife and a wonderful family. I am honestly dumbfounded that Jeff could've even resorted to such an activity. What is this world coming to?
During season seven of American Idol, Jeff Archuleta kind of became a controversial backstage figure on the show. We heard these horrible rumors about him being this terrible stage dad, shouting orders at his son, refusing to give his son water when thirsty, and fighting with directors/producers of the show to get advantages for his son on Idol. Those allegations were all deemed as false and once season seven concluded, many David Archuleta fans really learned more about the real Jeff Archuleta. He didn't seem to be as bad of a guy as the rumors have stated. But you have to wonder if some of those rumors actually were true? Obviously those ones about him refusing David water and bossing him around couldn't be right. But the ones about him being too involving in the decision making for David during his Idol run very well could be true. This latest incident involving Jeff and the prostitute really changes his public perception. Prior to these allegations, many Archie fans became to think highly of Jeff. Well, judging from a variety of comments on message boards, Jeff Archuleta is no longer a popular parent. His public image has been changed forever, and that's very unfortunate.
That leads me to another topic that I've been considering discussing for awhile. Prior to this year, how many Americans knew who Jon and Kate Gosselin were? The show had always managed decent ratings for TLC - but nothing like what it's brought in ratings-wise this season. Obviously a firestorm of media controversy has erupted over this couple ever since rumors of their separation and infidelity began. The season premiere of their show on Memorial Day of this year reaped in record ratings for the TLC cable channel. However, the ratings achievement was reached because of the controversy over this couple - not because of the show and their eight children. And the sad part is, the children are the innocent victims of their parents in-fighting. The show used to be about the kids and how the parents dealt with raising eight children in a household. Now they only play the backstory to the controversy involving Jon and Kate.
I had just started an interest in watching the show prior to the Jon and Kate drama that has played out in tabloids and celebrity blogs. I had sensed from watching earlier episodes that Kate could be a pretty demanding wife for Jon. So it's not really a huge surprise for me to see their marriage has crumbled. However, to see eight children tangled up in the midst of everything is a terrible thing. Obviously Jon and Kate will set up arrangements for visitation if the rumors are true that they will indeed seek a divorce. I just have to wonder how exactly the show will go on once the divorce becomes final. Will Jon no longer be part of it? I have strong suspicions that Kate will not give up the show and the money she gets paid for doing it. But Jon very well could drop out of the public eye - and I sense that's what he's wanted since this past year and the drama has evolved.
Showing posts with label Jeff Archuleta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeff Archuleta. Show all posts
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, May 16, 2008
American Idol 7 - Random Thoughts
Who I want to win American Idol: David Archuleta. I guess it's no secret that I've been a big David Archuleta fan since the very start of the season. And I can honestly admit that no other contestant has captured my interest from start to finish ever since I've been watching the show. I've never understood how people cannot like the kid. I believe that a lot of the criticism from the so-called media experts have been unjust. Either that, or they blame David's downfalls on his father. I'll address that issue a little later in this blog. But David is a sincere, modest, and genuine individual and for those people who still think it's all an act, well I guess there is no hope for them. If you didn't realize what kind of a person Archie is after watching his homecoming video recap on Wednesday's results show, then you're blind. All season long, we've seen David overwhelmed at the praise he's received after stunning performances, deflected comments from others who say he truly is a great singer, and saying he's not worthy to be in the presence of certain recording stars. That's just who David Archuleta is. He has no ego about being a music star and the only reason he's in it is to sing and he hopes others will enjoy his singing. Well let me tell you, he has many, many fans that will follow him along his journey. And if he doesn't win American Idol and ends up being the runner-up, I don't believe that's going to hurt him, either. He's caught the eye of many people, from music executives, recording artists, Hollywood producers, and even movie directors! Heck, the exposure he's gotten from American Idol could allow him to do anything. As Randy says every week, he can sing anything. Well I say, David will be able to anything! I think the results after next week's finale will be extremely close; rivaling those achieved during season two's Clay vs. Rueben final. I really hope it'll be Archie who wins it because I've followed him ever since his audition in San Diego and I've been a fan since that time. I don't need to tell you anymore about the kid because he is who he is. David Archuleta for the win!
Controversy over David's Dad: I don't believe I've really weighed in on the Jeff Archuleta controversy that has hounded David since the "We Can Work it Out" performance. I've mentioned it briefly but never gave my true opinion about it. I've kind of gone back and forth about it ever since the situation surfaced. In the beginning I believed whole heartedly that David's dad was a stage father. It was vindication for David's poor performance during the first Beatles week. Then people close to the Archuleta family were backing up Jeff and saying he's not at all how the media makes him out to be. So I was comforted for a time after hearing that Jeff doesn't yell at his son until he starts crying. But then Naomi Judd made an appearance on the Today Show and told the nation how much of a overbearing stage dad that Jeff really was. She's credible in all of this because she was a judge on Star Search when David competed at the age of 12. She even said Jeff had to be locked up in a security box because he was such a negative influence during the show. I believed the whole stage dad story all over again because of her accounts since it really seemed like she was speaking the truth! But then stories surfaced from the Archuleta camp that said Naomi was hardly ever backstage and never even met David in person! They were supposed to meet after the final episode but she had already been whisked away on a plane. I have good reason to believe that Naomi never really saw Jeff be a stage dad first hand and only heard the rumors that were going around. So five years afterwards, she remembers what she heard and decided to blast Jeff Archuleta and add more fuel to the fire. So then I got to believing that she's not really credible at all and only said what she said about Jeff Archuleta to re-gain attention again. Because really, what has she been up to ever since she's been on Star Search? Not a whole lot. It was probably a publicity stunt for her to get back into the public limelight and what better way to do that than to talk about a front-runner contestant on the top rated TV show in America. So then finally, we have the recent report about David's dad being "banned" from helping David backstage at American Idol. Of course TMZ was the first to uncover the story first and then for whatever reason, the story developed legs and started spreading onto more credible media sites such as the Associated Press and CNN. But at this point, however, I was only half-believing it. It appeared to me that the previous stories about Jeff Archuleta being a stage dad were blown so far out of proportion than they should have that all they did was develop negative press for David and it may have hurt him with the voters for awhile. So again, this time around, the Archuleta camp had to back up daddy Archuleta a third time and eventually, staffers at American Idol were doing the same. He wasn't banned, but asked not to participate with David in song selection and arrangement exercises like he has previously. So even though I've been back and forth on this issue for some time, I've come to the conclusion that Jeff isn't at all a bad guy like he's been made out to be and is only doing what he can for his son and providing a huge amount of support for him. Even David stood up for his dad in a recent TV Guide article. Even though we are nearing the end of this season's American Idol, I just don't think the Jeff Archuleta stage-dad stories will entirely end, although they should diminish some.
American Idol Season Eight: It's hard to believe season seven is almost over. It doesn't seem like we started all that long ago. So after many posts regarding the show in this blog, the American Idol reviews and random postings will be coming to an end. And once this season is over, it will be the last time I write at all about the show in this particular blog. I am washing my hands of it here at Luke's Ponderings. Okay, before you go all crazy, it's all part of a bigger plan for me. Seeing how American Idol has consumed my life during the past four+ months, I have decided that one of the best ways for me to communicate my obsession for the show is in very new blog - with a title still to come. Some of you may have come across specific blogs dedicated to the show or the contestants. Well my new blog will be devoted entirely to American Idol and the news around it. You will see my recaps, my random thoughts, news articles, and many other features there. I will also cover the auditions, the Hollywood Round, the semi-finals, and the finals. There will be more American Idol coverage in that blog more than I've ever done in this one. That doesn't mean I am going to abandon Luke's Ponderings because I am going to continue to do my usual routine with this one. I just feel that all I've mostly talked about during the past few months was this show and that could drive some people away. So be sure to check back in the late fall or early winter when the new American Idol blog by me will be released. Hopefully it will develop a following like some of the other popular Idol blogs that are currently on the web.
You know, there were a couple of other topics I wanted to discuss regarding American Idol, but I think I am going to save those until another opportunity. We still have three days left until the finale performances from David Archuleta and David Cook, so I think I'll be able to sneak in one final random thoughts blog before all is said and done. May the best David win!
Controversy over David's Dad: I don't believe I've really weighed in on the Jeff Archuleta controversy that has hounded David since the "We Can Work it Out" performance. I've mentioned it briefly but never gave my true opinion about it. I've kind of gone back and forth about it ever since the situation surfaced. In the beginning I believed whole heartedly that David's dad was a stage father. It was vindication for David's poor performance during the first Beatles week. Then people close to the Archuleta family were backing up Jeff and saying he's not at all how the media makes him out to be. So I was comforted for a time after hearing that Jeff doesn't yell at his son until he starts crying. But then Naomi Judd made an appearance on the Today Show and told the nation how much of a overbearing stage dad that Jeff really was. She's credible in all of this because she was a judge on Star Search when David competed at the age of 12. She even said Jeff had to be locked up in a security box because he was such a negative influence during the show. I believed the whole stage dad story all over again because of her accounts since it really seemed like she was speaking the truth! But then stories surfaced from the Archuleta camp that said Naomi was hardly ever backstage and never even met David in person! They were supposed to meet after the final episode but she had already been whisked away on a plane. I have good reason to believe that Naomi never really saw Jeff be a stage dad first hand and only heard the rumors that were going around. So five years afterwards, she remembers what she heard and decided to blast Jeff Archuleta and add more fuel to the fire. So then I got to believing that she's not really credible at all and only said what she said about Jeff Archuleta to re-gain attention again. Because really, what has she been up to ever since she's been on Star Search? Not a whole lot. It was probably a publicity stunt for her to get back into the public limelight and what better way to do that than to talk about a front-runner contestant on the top rated TV show in America. So then finally, we have the recent report about David's dad being "banned" from helping David backstage at American Idol. Of course TMZ was the first to uncover the story first and then for whatever reason, the story developed legs and started spreading onto more credible media sites such as the Associated Press and CNN. But at this point, however, I was only half-believing it. It appeared to me that the previous stories about Jeff Archuleta being a stage dad were blown so far out of proportion than they should have that all they did was develop negative press for David and it may have hurt him with the voters for awhile. So again, this time around, the Archuleta camp had to back up daddy Archuleta a third time and eventually, staffers at American Idol were doing the same. He wasn't banned, but asked not to participate with David in song selection and arrangement exercises like he has previously. So even though I've been back and forth on this issue for some time, I've come to the conclusion that Jeff isn't at all a bad guy like he's been made out to be and is only doing what he can for his son and providing a huge amount of support for him. Even David stood up for his dad in a recent TV Guide article. Even though we are nearing the end of this season's American Idol, I just don't think the Jeff Archuleta stage-dad stories will entirely end, although they should diminish some.
American Idol Season Eight: It's hard to believe season seven is almost over. It doesn't seem like we started all that long ago. So after many posts regarding the show in this blog, the American Idol reviews and random postings will be coming to an end. And once this season is over, it will be the last time I write at all about the show in this particular blog. I am washing my hands of it here at Luke's Ponderings. Okay, before you go all crazy, it's all part of a bigger plan for me. Seeing how American Idol has consumed my life during the past four+ months, I have decided that one of the best ways for me to communicate my obsession for the show is in very new blog - with a title still to come. Some of you may have come across specific blogs dedicated to the show or the contestants. Well my new blog will be devoted entirely to American Idol and the news around it. You will see my recaps, my random thoughts, news articles, and many other features there. I will also cover the auditions, the Hollywood Round, the semi-finals, and the finals. There will be more American Idol coverage in that blog more than I've ever done in this one. That doesn't mean I am going to abandon Luke's Ponderings because I am going to continue to do my usual routine with this one. I just feel that all I've mostly talked about during the past few months was this show and that could drive some people away. So be sure to check back in the late fall or early winter when the new American Idol blog by me will be released. Hopefully it will develop a following like some of the other popular Idol blogs that are currently on the web.
You know, there were a couple of other topics I wanted to discuss regarding American Idol, but I think I am going to save those until another opportunity. We still have three days left until the finale performances from David Archuleta and David Cook, so I think I'll be able to sneak in one final random thoughts blog before all is said and done. May the best David win!
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